What ACT Score Is Needed to Get Into College?

Linda Foley

Most colleges and universities use the American College Test (ACT) and/or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) to evaluate students applying for admission. There are four parts of the ACT and students receive a score on each part (English, reading, mathematics and science.) Scores for each part range from low (1) to high (36, the top score). Colleges average the four scores to obtain a composite score.

The Big Three

Most ACT data report the scores received as a range between the 25th percentile of students (25 percent of students received a lower score) and the 75th percentile of students (75 percent of students received a lower score); in other words, the scores of the mid 50 percent of students. The big three colleges (Harvard, Princeton and Yale) accepted students whose composite scores on the ACT ranged from 30 (25th percentile of students) to 35 (75th percentile of students) (See Reference 2). Scores for students were: Harvard, mean ACT 32.5, composite of 31-34; Princeton, mean ACT 33, composite of 31-35; and Yale, mean ACT 32, composite 30-34.

State Colleges and Universities

More than 1 million students took the ACT in 2009, obtaining an average score of 21.1. Average scores vary by state, with the highest average test scores in 2009 in Massachusetts (23.6) and Connecticut (23.3) and the lowest scores in Florida (19.8) and Mississippi (18.9). The majority of high school students seek admission to public colleges and universities, most of which require a minimum score of 18 on the ACT. Exceptions to the minimum requirement are made for students with high grade-point averages and other accomplishments.

References

About the Author

Linda Foley has been writing about psychology and the justice system since 1974. Her articles have been published in the "Journal of Forensic Psychology," "Trial Lawyer" and the "Journal of Social Behavior and Personality." Foley holds a Doctor of Philosophy in social psychology from the University of Florida.